Are insect burgers the next big thing? In recent years, insects have gained increased attention as an underutilized protein source. Some argue that swapping burgers for bugs could help save the planet and feed it in one fell swoop — all while reducing the suffering of non-human animals. But is the climate promise of eating insects realistic, or is all the buzz destined to be a bust?
A new report from the Stockholm Environment Institute suggests the latter. After analyzing the industry and existing studies, researchers concluded that insect protein may be overblown as a climate solution, and urged caution before declaring insects the next big alternative protein.
“Insect farming is often framed as a sustainability solution,” writes Camilo Garzón, research associate at the institute. “But the benefits depend on how insects are produced and what they replace in our diets. On current evidence, the environmental case is far less clear-cut than often assumed.”
Arnold van Huis, professor of tropical entomology at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, is more optimistic. While he acknowledges some of the challenges and uncertainty facing insect proteins, he stresses that the industry is still very young, and that researchers are regularly learning new things that could help overcome those hurdles.
